Chapter 156: The Land of Water Enters the War
January, Konoha Year 27. A gentle spring breeze swept across the land. The clear, vibrant morning light shone golden onto the world, and the refreshing spring air was comfortable and pleasant.
Orochimaru, now an eighteen-year-old youth, wore a relaxed, moon-white kimono for casual wear. A pale gold sash cinched the loose kimono, securing the ink-black Muramasa sword at his waist. This highlighted his long, slender figure while his exposed, toned chest hinted at the terrifying power concealed within his body.
His handsome face was still pale and wicked, the faint sinister smile always lightly present. Combined with his dark-golden, demonic snake eyes, every move Orochimaru made increasingly exuded an intensely captivating, magnetic charisma.
He stood on a hilltop, gazing across the vast, thousand-kilometer-long battle line between the two armies.
Over the past three years, Konoha, gradually freeing up its forces and beginning to control the direction of the Second Great Shinobi War, had put increasing pressure on the Sand Ninja of the Land of Wind. The territory they initially occupied had all been recaptured by Konoha, pushing the counter-attack back beyond the borders of the Land of Fire. The two armies were now locked in a standoff across the southern territories of the Land of Rivers.
In Orochimaru's dark-golden eyes, which gazed into the distance, was a stillness like water, concealing endless mystery and wisdom that no one else could comprehend. He knew clearly that within this vast, thousand-kilometer stretch of forest, countless small-scale battles to the death were taking place in unseen locations.
While the conflict had entered a stable phase, the casualties resulting from individual missions during this period were no less grim than those during a general offensive. In fact, they were often more brutal, with a single failed mission typically resulting in the annihilation of the entire squad.
Orochimaru also knew that this was the nature of ninja combat: it tolerated no mercy or warmth, being starkly characterized by the jungle law of life-and-death struggle and survival of the fittest.
Standing behind Orochimaru were ten elite Chūnin who bowed and waited for orders.
If someone were to simultaneously lift their collars, they would be surprised to discover that these ten Konoha ninja—none of them old, but all possessing contained and steady auras that made them formidable even among elite Chūnin—each had a tattoo seal of an eight-headed, eight-tailed giant serpent on the back of their neck. The difference was that some were gold and some were black.
These ten were the best members of the two groups, Gold Snake and Black Snake, secretly inserted from Orochimaru's secret base in the Land of Fields over the past few years. Orochimaru kept them close to facilitate training. It also provided them with many opportunities to establish merits, which would be convenient for his future plans.
Yumi and Fukurō (Owl), who had left a deep impression on Orochimaru in the past, stood prominently among them.
The ten members of the Black Snake and Gold Snake groups, waiting at attention, constantly looked toward Orochimaru with intense adoration and reverence. He was practically their faith and their everything!
At that moment, Fukurō, who stood as still as a towering pine, took a message from a Konoha falcon. A moment later, he knelt on one knee behind Orochimaru and respectfully reported: "Lord Orochimaru, Lord Uchiha Kagami sent a message. Important intelligence has arrived from Konoha. Please return quickly for a meeting!"
Orochimaru withdrew his gaze from the distance, turned around, and nodded. As he walked, he asked: "Chi, what percentage of the Gold Snake and Black Snake members have been successfully brought in now?"
Chi silently slipped out of the shadow of an ancient tree beside Orochimaru, still speaking with his characteristic stutter: "In these years, while... while sending them... in, we have also taken in... many gifted... orphans and talents. We have reached fifty... fifty percent!"
"Hmm, take your time. The pace of the plan isn't the problem; the key is to ensure security is handled well," Orochimaru nodded lightly. He always had confidence in Chi's efficiency.
Chi nodded and followed by Orochimaru's side, only slipping back into the shadows just before they entered the Konoha camp.
Over the years, Orochimaru had accumulated significant merit from numerous battlefield missions. His current position was a dual role: Captain of the Anbu Second Platoon and Captain of the Anbu First Squad.
For Konoha's higher-ranking ninja, the importance of the Anbu First Squad was self-evident, as it served as the Hokage's personal guard. This clearly demonstrated Hiruzen Sarutobi's underlying intent: he was grooming Orochimaru as his successor.
As they walked from the camp entrance to the central main tent, every Konoha ninja rose to salute. This was not only due to Orochimaru's position but also his many great contributions to Konoha and his soaring reputation.
Orochimaru was not arrogant—at least he didn't appear so on the surface. With a faint smile on his lips, he met everyone's gaze, making every Konoha ninja feel as though they had been individually acknowledged.
The pace of a ninja was naturally quick, and Orochimaru and his group soon arrived outside the main tent.
After being announced, Orochimaru was respectfully invited inside.
Upon entering, Orochimaru saw that everyone was already assembled.
Nara Shikahira, Yamanaka Ryuji, and Akimichi Torobu all greeted Orochimaru with an amicable smile.
After the Decapitation Operation, Orochimaru's relationship with the three clan heads had deepened. He had even used this to connect his Land of Fields secret base with the three clans, managing profitable businesses related to their family specialities, such as Nara family's medicinal herbs and Yamanaka family's flower gardens.
The three clan heads, who merely thought Orochimaru had, like other ninja, established side businesses in the Land of Fire or other countries, were not suspicious. Instead, they trusted Orochimaru implicitly. With this added layer of business relationship, Orochimaru's bond with the three had become even closer.
Inside the tent, besides the three clan heads, there was Uchiha Kagami, the General Commander of the Western Front, and another man wearing the Uchiha clan uniform: Uchiha Fushō, who was also a Semi-Kage level powerhouse and had experienced the Land of Rivers mission with Orochimaru before.
With their many interactions over the past three years, they dispensed with formalities.
After exchanging greetings, Uchiha Kagami—who had short black hair and a handsome, gentle face, but whose aura was so powerful that simply standing there made one feel as if they were facing a humanoid fireball—spoke first. He used a rare, serious tone, and the information contained in his words was like a bombshell dropped on Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, emergency intelligence from Konoha: The Land of Water has mobilized its forces!"
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